First and foremost, tell us about Skylink Group

01Mar 2016
Correspondent
Features
The Guardian
First and foremost, tell us about Skylink Group
  • Delegation of tasks and authority are key goals to any company’s growth, says Moustafa Khataw, Managing Director and CEO of Skylink Group. He talked to our MEET the BOSS series on his day-to-day responsibilities at his workplace. Read on…

1. Skylink Travel & Tours Ltd, which operates as a franchisee of UNIGLOBE Travel International headquartered in Vancouver, Canada. Skylink Travel celebrates its 25th year of existence in July, 2016.

Moustafa Khataw

2. Skylink Rent A Car Ltd, which operates as a licensee of FIRST Car Rental headquartered in Durban, South Africa.
3. Noesis Strategic Institute Ltd (NSI), which specializes in providing solutions to corporates to enhance customer service and crush competition. NSI partnered with Service Quality Institute based in USA to promote its Customer Service Culture Change Programs in Tanzania for 10 years.

And what about your leadership profile?
I am also past president of the Rotary Club of Dar es Salaam as well as current chairman of TASOTA - Tanzania Society of Travel Agents - and Chapter President for ASTA - American Society of Travel Agents.

What was your first job?
I started working in April 1978 as an Accounts Assistant at KILTEX Corporation – then the leading textile mill in Tanzania

What part of your business gives you sleepless nights?
At present, the biggest challenge is getting paid on time by clients. In travel business, we have to settle with IATA on a fortnight basis without fail irrespective of whether our clients have paid us or not. This puts undue strain to our cash flow. The market has to grow but the challenge is in our sector, most of the transactions are done using credit cards by individual clients/corporates whose penetration is very low in Tanzania.

How does your day begin and how does it end?
I normally wake up between 5 a.m. to 5.30 a.m. daily. After normal morning rituals of prayers, I take time to read books as well as undertake online training. I report to the office latest 8 a.m. and call it a day around 7 p.m. The day is spent meeting clients, responding to e-mails and management briefing with my team on daily basis. I normally have a lunch break of 30 minutes and have meal prepared from home apart from luncheons during rotary meetings on Wednesdays or other business luncheon appointments

Who was your mentor?
My mentor is Anver Rajpar with whom I have had acquaintance since 1970. He has always guided me in business and provided support whenever needed. In addition, my brother –in- law Akber Hameer - has been a source of inspiration since the time he advised me to join an accountancy course when I completed my secondary school. I believe my accounting experience has helped me a lot to run my businesses successfully.

Where would do you want Skylink Group to be next decade?
Skylink to be the leading travel management company in Africa, which sets up standards to professionalism. With our new venture of Skylink Safaris, we shall bring in more tourists to visit our game parks and thus be a source of generating the much- need foreign exchange.

Outline the group’s focus in 2016?
Our main focus this year is to recruit/inject new “blood” (staff) of high calibre and great potential in technology so as to be able to reach out to our clients within and outside Tanzania through online booking portal, social media that’s blended with personalized local touch. We shall continue to provide in-house training on customer service and ensure that our staff is “happy” and in turn they will be able to serve our clients well.

How did you make it?
I believe that hard work brings you more luck – it’s been a tough and challenging experience. 21 years at the helm of Skylink is not a short time! In July, 2016, the company will celebrate its silver jubilee – a very commendable achievement and all this has been due to my fantastic team members. Further, we have continued to evolve technologically and this has given us an edge above the rest.

Comment on your management style.
I lead an empowered management team. Delegation of authority is crucial in getting the company’s goals achieved. I allow my team to take decisions, which are in the best interest of our clients.

Do successful people like you have enough time to be with their families?
This is a tough question! Sometimes telephones/meetings/content messages can be an intrusion and one tends to lose focus resulting in longer hours spent in the office. I do my best to keep Sunday as family day.

When was the last time you went on holiday and why are such excursions important for top managers?
We all need to recharge ourselves. I don’t “roam” with my local phone. My calls are directed to my Executive Assistant who takes care of pertinent matters when I am on leave. I went on a 10 days’ vacation in December 2015 and try to have short breaks whenever it’s possible.

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